Weatherproof tooling container



Aug, 27, 1957 c. G. :MARTIN 2,804,233

WEATHERPROOF I TOOLING CONTAINER Filed April 25, 1955- FIG. i.

INVENTOR CHARLES G. MARTIN ATTORN'IEY I E WIIIIIIIIIII'JH/Z:

WEATHERPROOF TUOLING CONTAINER Charles G. Martin, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of onethird to Thomas Blaylock and one-third to Edward Manthey Application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,474

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-97) This invention relates to an improved weatherproof tooling container and has for one of its principal objects the provision of a device of the class described which renders possible the convenient outdoor storage of all sorts of tools, dies and other equipment which would ordinarily require considerable space for storage indoors, but which would be damaged more or less irreparably if simply placed outdoors without the protection of the fixture container of this invention.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide an economical means for storing, shipping and transportation of metal fixtures, machine tools, jigs and other objects of various composition such as metal, wood or the like, outside factory buildings in specially constructed containers which are weatherproof.

Another object is to provide a container for various materials which Will be proof against humidity both inside and outside thereof and which is so constructed that circulation of air throughout is assured, thereby preventing undesirable rust, corrosion, or accumulation of dust and dirt.

Still another object is to provide a device of the class described so designed and constructed that a normal breathing in each container is experienced, thereby providing a constantly changing atmosphere within which prevents condensation. This dry internal condition in each container provides a perfect atmospheric condition for the storage of any object for unlimited periods of time Without the use of a desiccant or other drying agent.

Another object is to provide a leakproof container which would protect the objects stored within from either rainfall or rising waters up to its height limit.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a container for tools, machine parts and the like which is of such a construction that a number of the same can be stacked upon each other, whereupon the bottom of one container forms a cover for the one just below, with a separate cover for the topmost one of the group.

Another and still further important object of the invention is the provision of a metal or other container for outside storage of mill fixtures, tools and the like, or any other item composed of any material and which is so constructed that the same, whether full or empty, can be readily handled by means of an ordinary moving and lifting truck, thereby rendering any container with its contents very easily accessible when occasion arises.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of two of the improved containers of this invention showing one upon another and with a cover on the uppermost container. The figure also shows the manner in which the containers are handled by a moving and lifting mechanism.

2,804,233 Patented Aug. 27, 1957 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cover which is to be placed upon the uppermost container of a stack.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a representative container showing portions of the inside thereof and also illustrating means for receiving the forks of a liftingtruck and the angular lower flanges which serve as base elements and also protective shields against increase of moisture, dirt or the like, to the contents of a supporting container.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating the construction of the slots for receiving the truck forks and the combination base and moisture and dirt deflecting element. This is a section on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged partial section taken on the line 66 of Figure 3 illustrating that portion of the construction which provides for free and thorough circulation of an.

Figure 7 shows two superimposed containers with arrows illustrating the air circulation feature.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally the container of this invention, the same being preferably formed 5 of metal with reinforcing ribs 12 around its sides and ends and with an inturned upper flange 14 which extends around the periphery of the top.

The container 10 is provided with a bottom 16 (Figure 4) which is corrugated as at 18, thereby providing additional strength and preventing any contained machine parts from lying flat on the bottom, which might prevent access of air to portions thereof.

The sides and ends of the container extendslightly be low the bottom 16 as best shown at 20 in Figure 4, and channels 22 are fitted against the side elements 20 extending longitudinally of the container. These channels are open at their ends as shown at 24 in Figure 3, thereby providing for the ready reception of the forks 56 of a lifting truck or the like 58, as indicated in the dot and dash line of Figure 1. They are full welded and water tight.

A combination base element and rainguard is suitably aflixed to the lower portion of the container and preferably completely surrounds the same. This comprises a structure 26 somewhat triangular in cross section (Figure 4), the upper edge of which is welded at 28 to the container wall 10, and the inner upturned end being likewise fastened to the lower edge of the container side and end extension 20. This comprises an inwardly bent portion 30 which is also fixed to the channel elements 22 along the lowermost edges of the container sides.

The element 26 thereby includes a base portion 32 which rests on the ground or other support 34 and in the event of one container being stacked upon another, fits around the upper end of a supporting container with some space to spare, as shown in Figure 4. At the same time, circulation of air in such a covered lowermost container is assured, because plenty of space is provided between the upper peripheral edge of the lower container and the spaces between the channels 22 forming part of the bottom of the supported container. This is fully shown in Figure 6. The corrugations 18 in the bottom 16 also provide for additional air circulation so far as the supporting lower container is concerned.

A top or cover 40 is provided for the uppermost container, this being readily removable and provided with loops, hand holes or the like 42 welded or otherwise aifixed to the upper face thereof, thereby providing for handling of the same by the forks 56 of the lift truck 58 or by some other means. The cover is provided with a peripheral downwardly turned ledge 44 and is slightly larger than the container. It is also fitted with interior tilated, thereby preventing inside condensation. Fixtures stored therein when idle are kept in good condition and are ready for immediate use when necessary, with no rust, corrosion, or dirt and dust accumulation; They are ordinarily acceptable for re-use even without cleaningor re-working.

These containers eliminate costly pre-storage' operation, such as cleaning, drying or the application of rust or corrosion preventive compounds to the tools or other parts and eliminate any cleaning or de-greasing operation prior to re-use. A great deal of time is saved in handling and storing of fixtures in the containers of this invention, which are strong and sturdy and re-usable for indefinite periods.

Stacking can be accomplished, depending upon the capacity of the handling truck and no attention whatever is necessary even under the most severe conditions of outdoor weather, including rain, snow, fog and the like.

This, same normal breathing feature which permits a constantly changing atmosphere within the container may be employed in any shape or size of container constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, thereby providing dry storage for whatever items are stored therein. Channels or other ventilating parts to provide natural breathing may be employed.

The base, or foot, is designed with an extra broa undersurface so thatthe loaded container will not sink into the earth even when soft or muddy. c

A container, when stacked on top of another, will rest with only its fork channels bearing upon the top of the one which is underneath. This provides an adequate passage between the aforementioned channels of the upper container and the upper edge of the supporting and lower container, forthe natural breathing or free circulation of I air through these spaces on both ends.

I am aware that many changes may bemade and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention;

A weatherproof container, for tools and the like com prising a substantially rectangular parallelepipedon with an open top, a'bottom platform slightly above its lower edge, and an outwardly sloping combined base and guard element at the lower edge ,of thecontainer, said combination base and guard element extending around the lower periphery of the container, and means beneath the container bottom for receiving the forks of a lift truck, said means including channels extending longitudinally of the bottom and at each side thereof, the base and guard element and container having openings thereinfor the reception of the forks ofa lift truck, said base and guard element being substantially triangular in cross-section, having an upper edge portion, said base and guard element fastened to the container along a line approximating the level of the container bottom platform, the base and guard element having an intermediate portion contacting the bottom peripheral edge of the container, the base and guard element having a ground contacting portion below the lower edge of the container, the inside dimensions of said ground contacting portion being slightly greater than the respective outside dimensions of the container itself, whereby a nesting and stacking of such containers is possible, a removablecover for the container, said cover being of slightly greater dimensions than the upper edge of the container and having protuberances around its inner edge for contact with the upper edge of the container, thereby providing ventilating and air circulating spaces, the bottom, sidesland ends ofthe container being corrugated, the undersurface of the base at the lower edge of the container comprising an area approximating that of the bottom platform, the respective dimensions of the associated partsof nested containers providing for the free circulation of air into and out of any container so covered by another and wherein the described association of nested containers with their sloping guard elements prevents ingress of dirt and moisture while at the same time permitting breathing space.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 217,616 Holzner ,July 15, 1879 577,794 Stickney Feb. 23, 1897 1,635,419 Isaacs July 12, 1927 2,493,163 Rausing Jan. 3, 1950 2,601,820 Paul July 1, 1952 2,664,219 Schmidt Dec; 29, 1953 

